Seems that Americans have found that America has much to offer in the way of free recreation, that is our National Park system. I applaud the recent efforts of reducing or even having free day and multiple national parks this year. What a great way to spend time with our families! Dads have an opportunity to show their kids what being a man is all about and as a family unit how we can be good stewards of our land. If you can just convince your family that sleeping on the ground or even a wobbly air mattress. What I have found is yet a better appreciation for the land that we cherish and defend. Americans could use a little attention to land we have versus so many countries who can never match our natural resources. Perhaps we are all a little spoiled. Pick any national park, imprint in on your mind and think if it could ever be matched elsewhere. I challenge you to do so. Your tax dollar has hopefully been used well, to clear paths, make roads and hired outstanding rangers and guides. You should listen to the college degrees these guys have. You will be blown away. Take advantage of the free parks this year.

Introducing the Grant family. I was very young, well a teenager, when I first came to learn of the Grants in the neighborhood. We never really knew them deeply, just that so many neighbors wanted to know them better and better. They were the talk of the town and so it seemed, the talk of the nightly news. “Tear down this wall Mr Gorbachev” was exclaimed on the television from our great leader President Reagan and next the finish of the stock market and finally, “that’s the way it is and good night.” The pressure cooker is heard simmering ready to give way at any time and the sound of ice hits the bottom of the glasses, now I know that dinner time has come and the news will be switched on and again three times each half hour for all we knew was network news and the Grant family.

The Grants never moved. The family was mentioned at the dinner table as ruining our lives yet we needed to know them better to survive. It seemed all so crazy. They said it was a decade of decadence and overabundance of the self. The Grants wanted to be a part of family and we were told they would come, but at a trickle.

I have been in sales now for over 8 years. The last opportunity I took mandated that I use my own car and gas within a very large territory. What I have found and that many large corporate operations are finding is that travel budgets have to be cut. We all waste a lot of time when other methods could be used to maximize travel and business. That is when I found One Source Insight’s Find Prospects by Geography.  Plus, they have a great, clean web site that is very easy to use. They have links to research, client development, sales and marketing. I will be using these guys this year to drive sales!

They have a better approach optimize your face to fact contacts in three ways: First they will help target lists by using radius searches within the territory. Second, they will help create a travel window each metro area so then you can start planning early. Third, You call the prospects by geography and make that planned trip a reason to meet.

One of the new struggles my family is facing is the fact that our grandparents are using a wheelchair full time and are in need of dependable transportation to get to and from doctor visits etc. You just cannot go out and find any type of van, it has to have special equipment. That is when I found mobilityworks.com who sells vans that have an electric wheelchair lift among other items to suit your access needs. They have 12 dealerships around the country that look and work like any other auto dealership. They have hundreds of new and used vans from all the major van manufacturers. You may want the typical minivan or a full size Econoline van. Perhaps you just need a lift to attach your scooter, they have those too. Their website is great! They have a very cool link to YouTube to watch videos to demonstrate their product. They have a link to their conversion van inventory. I looked into their current specials and found everything from $9,000 to $30,000 vans with all different kinds of ramps for wheelchair access. Make sure you read on their EZ lock docking system to find out just how your loved one will be secure once the van is on the road! Finally, what will be great for my family is that my grandfather is a veteran and they can help you through the process of getting the VA to help pay for the system as well as for Medicare and Workers Compensation programs. So its not just a nice site with an inventory list. Its much more with customer service, financing, great videos on YouTube and rental information. It is truly a one stop shop for wheelchair access vans!

I just mentioned that you need a solid career to ride the wave any recession, especially now and in the future. There is one job that is simply going no where and that is pharmacy jobs. Think about it, the baby boomers are beginning to retire and use many prescriptions and will for some time to come. You can work at a large retail chain like CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens or you can find a locally owned and operated store. There are jobs all around the US for these places and you can find the jobs on the web, such as the link above. You can work as a Pharmacist that requires a PharmD or be a Pharmacy Tech or work the register. What a great rewarding job that survive the economic downturn.

I have been reading about the amount of security it will take to guard the inauguration. It will take about 46,000 officers to do so. That is staggering. Have you taken the time to understand a much more realistic threat in 2009? How about the very device you are using to read this, that is your home or office computer system. I did some research and found that Sandisk is on top of this. They saw that Forbes magazine did some research and found 2008 to be the worst year in in data losses and breaches. This is staggering. So who is the most at risk of Cyber Terrorism? Well, I believe that is now corporate America. I believe this because with the meltdown of the economy, there are competitor companies looking to gobble up market share and breach of security of corporate operations is too tempting to steal. What kind of Cyber Terrorism will we see? Database exposure is the greatest asset to protect today and without encrypted data with strong password protocols, companies have so much to lose. I could see internal personnel as the great threat with so many losing their jobs, it could be tempting to steal data and take to another company. So how can a company keep its data safe? I believe you go to best in usb encryption and that is SanDisk. They have the brand, the experience, the patents and customer service to protect all of us from theft or loss due to malicious cyber attack. Portable encrypted data is one way along with central management and access provisioning that will save companies critical data. Its time for all businesses in America to take action to secure their USB drives and gain control over their database management of sensitive information. With this economy, you cannot afford not to.

One of the great subjects that we teach our youth today is the perinial topic of literature. From the Illyad to Dickens to Psalms to Tolstoy, human kind has endeavored to put to paper, stone or papyrus, their story into the written word. What is it over time that we still do this? What is the lure? Could it be that the authors understand that what they write could be passed down for generations to come? I like to think they wanted us to know our part of their culture, what was important to them and the issues of life they faced. We see the searching of the soul it seems in every story, with heroes and villains, rich and poor etc. It just seems amazing to me that stories written 500 or even 2000 years ago still strike a chord with us. I wonder if these authors struggled with youth who found the classics boring and a waste of time. Why is it that the youth find this a waste. I think they have not seen the world yet and all the troubles that adults have seen and lived. The youth have not tasted adversity yet or daily struggles of life because they are still under our wing. They need real life to compare it to, they need to experience love and marriage, politics, war etc. I have been hard on the young for not taking literature seriously. Perhaps they just cannot do so until their soul has tasted the struggle of life.

It has been reported today that now Circuit City is ready to liquidate and release over 30,000 employees. Pfizer will lay over 2,000 and the list goes on and on. What an amazing opportunity for the right entrepreneur to scoop us such a Talent pool and now. If only I could think of the right company for this is the right time and place. Power that be, ever present and oh so more intelligent than I are out there now but I just cannot think of what we should be launching. Whats more, this talent pool will be less expensive than in previous years. My question is to you my loyal readers? If you could own any business and had access to this talent pool, what you do. Where is the next opportunity?

One of the largest investments we will ever make is the home we buy for our families. We take out huge loans that take 15 to 30 years to pay off. What a huge responsibility that is and even compounding the situation, what do you do if your bread winning spouse dies. That’s where mortgage life insurance comes in. NAA life is a great company I found that a great focus, our dream our homes. This is a tough economy where we may not get back all we thought we would when we sell our homes. Now, pretend your spouse has died and not only do you not have the money to pay the mortgage, you cant even sell the house. Hence, mortgage protection will pay off the debt upon your death. Unfortunately, the bills do not end at the mortgage company. They seem to keep coming and coming. Your spouse is gone so now how do you pay for the funeral, college tuition, medical bills? That is where term life insurance comes in to help pay those bills. What piece of mind there is in these insurance products and from such a reputable company like NAA. Their term life product is very competitive and will meet your needs. Plus, their site is very easy to use. On the right side of home page you can fill in your information and get a quote right away. They even sell disability insurance and annuities. I just know that in this economy you really have no choice but to look into these insurance policies.

I really thought that the outgoing president did a very fine job of outlining how he took his administration over the last 8 years from beginning to end. Little did he know that within 9 months of his Presidency, that 9/11 would could to pass and alter any strategy or public policies he was looking to move forward. No, all things had to change and tough decisions had to be made. How do you fight an enemy you cannot see, that does not wear an uniform and does not live within the domain of one country. It lurks around every corner, various websites, chat rooms and may even wear a suit and work inside an established company. Its an unsettling issue to say the least. We tried our best and at least our borders remained safe over 8 years but a very high price of the death of so many soldiers. We may never know what victory looks like, because there will be no formal peace treaty signed on the deck of a battleship. No, we will not have that luxury this time. Even when we rest and years go by they may be plotting. Our next president will be tested just like President Bush did. Stay tuned.

I just found one very cool website and that is www.magnalight.com. My kids love all flashlights and spotlights as they run around the yard and after a few searches I found this one. What I found were some great things to buy within a very easy site to use. You will find magnalight is a division of Larsen Electric. They sell boat lights, rechargeable handheld lights but also explosion proof lights. You will see their products on the site mounted to a military Humvee! What is more is that explosion proof lights are safe. They are are UL listed Class 1 or Division 1 so for example they could be used around marine vehicles, fuel cells and paint booths. They have a great article on finding the right light titled, “Better Know your Light”. Further, I found a great light for the garage what I call a Trouble light that I can hook to the hood of the car while I fix it. Finally, the help links are endless to find information on the lights they sell!

I just found that forclosure are now up over 80% from last year with Nevada leading the way. I still struggle with what to say in this manner. I just mentioned that no one made anyone sign for their mortgage but perhaps the sway or lure of homes coupled with easy credit and the consistent drive to keep with the Jones lead to the national disaster; the Second Great Depression. What to do? Again, let the market take its course. Newspapers and online news seem only to find the latest bankruptcy or the latest real estate failure. Not to fear, we are just going through a tremendous cleansing of the system and hopefully your soul! Move forward with the resolve this year to live within your means and on budget. It can happen. These companies could not do either and hence the closing of so many and a great variety of stores. Next…the farewell address of President Bush. Stay tuned.

Now the time has come to begin the tradition of bashing the president via Monday morning quarterback methods just before they leave office for good. Say what you will, but US ground has not been touched by a foreign army or terrorist group since 9/11. What more is there to say. The economy is our problem not his. This is a worldwide correction and families reviewing the way we live and what we can afford and moreover what is important to life. So put that to rest. The president protects us and that is all. Less government the better. Did they really watch out for the SEC scandals, no did they watch out for mortgages no, so really it is up to us to review our lives and make it our responsibility where we put our money.

I noticed that there are some great opportunities these days in two areas that never go away. It appears that Lumber may have hit its real bottom and this year we will see a rebound in building as prices are more affordable for home builders. Yes, I realize I sound crazy but if you think about it all those homes going South were simply over inflated and not even close to what they were worth coupled with folks who had no business being approved for those loans. The chance now is to find that piece of property that you always wanted and build a simple affordable home that fits your practicle needs rather than your home theater needs. Plus, Sherwin Williams stock is up based on increase sales in paint. Yes, its rather boring but paint is a product we take for granted. It could also be a good barometer on the economy to show that we either building new or remodeling. Some sectors are dull but still great.

It is so encouraging to know that one of the truest and most historical hunting around, that is Duck Hunting, still exists. There is plentiful game, with solid rules both from Federal and State levels and along with enjoyment for most of the family. Sure people still find it awful, in poor taste and a waste of time but I do not. Our family just enjoys being there, however hard it is to get up in the cold winter months and sit in a blind for hours on end. But at least there is game and you do not have to always have access to a farmers land to enjoy yourself. There is plenty of government land to use and in a way you are helping that very government with population control of these wildfowl. Hunters respect the rules with the right environmental ammo and at least keep the numbers of overrun ducks out of the city parks or at least under control. Enjoy yourself and pick up a new hobby.